‘Carrie Anne’ is a song written by Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, and Tony Hicks and released by British pop rock group the Hollies. It was recorded on 1 May 1967 and was released as a single in the same month in the United Kingdom and in the United States. It became a hit in 1967, reaching No.3 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also a hit in the US and Canada, peaking at No.9 on both pop charts. It also reached No.4 in the Irish charts.
This song is about the British singer-actress Marianne Faithfull, whose most famous romance was with Mick Jagger, but who also dated Hollies singer-guitarist Allan Clarke for a short time. "Marianne" was changed to "Carrie-Anne" so it wouldn't be totally obvious. The group didn't let on that the song was about Faithfull until 1995, when Graham Nash spilled the beans in a documentary.
Hollies members Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Graham Nash wrote this song and shared the lead vocals, with each taking a verse (Clarke, then Hicks, then Nash). According to Allan Clarke the song was written during a concert the group did with Tom Jones; Graham Nash and Tony Hicks were the main composers, with Allan Clarke supplying the lyrics for the middle eight.
According to the book Forty Years of Steel by Jeffrey Thomas, this song marks the first use of steel drums in a commercial pop record. Steel drums evoke an island vibe, but there's nothing tropical about this song and none of The Hollies played the instrument (it's not clear who played it on the record, but their producer, Ron Richards, apparently arranged it). Still, inserting a steel drum solo where a guitar solo would be certainly made the song stand out. Stephen Stills, Nash's bandmate in Crosby, Stills & Nash, incorporated steel drums into his 1970 hit "Love The One You're With."
The Canadian actress Carrie-Anne Moss, best known for playing Trinity in The Matrix, was named after this Hollies hit. The song was on the charts at the time of her birth in August 1967.
Labels – Parlophone (UK), Epic (US)
Songwriters – Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks
Producer – Ron Richards
SONG LYRICS
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo-doo dooDoo doo doo-doo doo doo doo-doo doo
Hey, Carrie Anne
Hey, Carrie Anne
When we were at school, our games were simple
I played the janitor, you played a monitor
Then you played with older boys and prefects
What's the attraction in what they're doing?
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
You were always something special to me
Quite independent, never caring
You lost your charm as you were aging
Where is your magic disappearing?
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
You're so, so like a woman to me (So like a woman to me)
So, so like a woman to me (So, so like a woman to me)
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
People live and learn but you're still learning
You use my mind and I'll be your teacher
When the lesson's over, you'll be with me
Then I'll hear the other people saying
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
Hey Carrie Anne
What's your game now, can anybody play?
Carrie Anne, Carrie Anne, Carrie Anne